2.1 Rome & the Rise of Christianity

2.2 Rome & the Rise of ChristianityThe Emergence of Rome

The Emergence of RomeIndo-European peoples moved into Italy from about 1500 to 1000 B.C.One people spoke Latin, an Indo-European language, and lived as herders and farmers on Italys hillsAfter 800 B.C., other people, including the Greeks and Etruscans, settled in ItalyEarly Rome was ruled by kings, some of whom were Etruscan

The Emergence of RomeIn 509 B.C., the Romans overthrew the last Etruscan king and established a republicIn a republic the leader is not a king and certain citizens have the right to voteEnemies surrounded Rome, and so the young republic began a long period of continuous warfareBy 264 B.C., Rome had defeated the Greeks and remaining Etruscan states and controlled almost all of Italy

The Emergence of RomeTo rule, the Romans devised the Roman ConfederationSome people had full Roman citizenshipOther groups were allies who controlled their local affairs but gave soldiers to Rome Such people could become Roman citizensThus many of the conquered peoples felt invested in Romes success

The Emergence of RomeRome faced a strong power in the MediterraneanCarthage, which was founded around 800 B.C. on the coast of North AfricaCarthage had a large trading empire in the western MediterraneanThe Romans fought three wars with Carthage- The Punic WarsDuring the Second Punic War, the victories of Carthages greatest general, Hannibal, almost brought Rome to disasterAfter creating new armies and a navy, the Romans defeated Hannibals forcesSpain became a Roman province, and Rome controlled the western MediterraneanRome completely destroyed Carthage in 146 B.C.

The Emergence of RomeIn the second century B.C., Rome also conquered Macedonia and Greece.In 129 B.C., Pergamum became Romes first province in AsiaRome was now master of the Mediterranean Sea

The Roman StateThe Romans distrusted kingship because of their experience with Etruscan kingsThey built a different form of governmentEarly Rome was divided into two groups, the patricians and the plebeiansPatricians were large landowners who formed Romes ruling classThe plebeians were the less-wealthy landholders, craftspeople, merchants, and small farmersMembers of both groups were citizens and could voteOnly patricians could be elected to public office

Patricians were members of the small amount of wealthy Roman families.

Plebeians were the majority of the population (workers, shopkeepers, and peasants). The Roman StateThe chief executive officers of the Roman Republic were the consuls and praetors.Two consuls ran the government and led the army into battleThe praetor directed the civil lawlaw as it applied to citizensLater another praetor was added to handle the law as it applied to non-citizensThe Roman Senate was especially importantAbout three hundred patricians who served for life made up the original SenateAt first only an advisory body, by the third century B.C. the Senate had the force of law

The Roman StateThe most important peoples assembly was the centuriate assemblyIt elected the consuls and praetors, and passed lawsIt was organized by classes based on wealth, so the wealthiest citizens always were the majorityThere was often conflict between the patricians and the plebeiansThe plebeians wanted political and social equalityFinally, in 471 B.C., a popular assembly called the council of the plebs was createdNew officials, called the tribunes of the plebs, were empowered to protect the plebeians

The Roman StateBy 287 B.C., all male Roman citizens were supposedly equal under the lawHowever, a few wealthy patrician and plebeian families formed a new senatorial ruling class that came to dominate political office the Roman Republic had not become a democracyFrom Republic to EmpireBetween 509 and 264 B.C., Rome expanded to control most of what is present-day ItalyBy 129 B.C., Rome controlled the Mediterranean SeaRomes republican institutions could not rule an empireThe Senate became the real governing bodyRival factions within the Senate fought for power and created disorderIn the first century B.C., Roman leaders began to recruit armies that swore allegiance to the general and not to the stateFrom Republic to EmpireBetween 82 and 31 B.C., various individuals including Julius Caesar competed for powerAfter Caesars assassination, his grandnephew Octavian took control of the Roman worldThe period from 31 B.C. to A.D. 14 is known as the Age of AugustusIn 27 B.C., the Senate awarded Octavian the title of Augustus (the revered one)Augustus controlled the army and thus had great powerThe Senate gave Augustus the title imperator (commander in chief) from which our word emperor is derivedAugustus became the first emperor of the Roman Empire.The Early EmpireThe period called the Early Empire lasted from A.D. 14 to 180During part of this time (A.D. 96180), a series of five so-called good emperorsNerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aureliusled Rome and created a time of peace and prosperity called the Pax Romana (Roman Peace)The good emperors respected the ruling classes, ended arbitrary executions, maintained peace, and supported domestic policies that benefited the empireThese emperors, however, also took power away from the SenateOfficials appointed and directed by the emperor began to run the governmentThe Early EmpireThe good emperors instituted programs to help the peopleTrajan provided funds to help the poor educate their childrenTrajan and Hadrian were especially active in building public worksaqueducts, bridges, roads, and harbor facilitiesBy the second century, the Roman Empire covered about three and a half million square miles and had a population estimated at over 50 million

The Early EmpireThe Early Empire was prosperousInternal peace helped trade growMerchants from across the empire came to the main Italian portsTrade went beyond the empires frontiers and included silk goods from ChinaLarge amounts of grain were imported to feed the people, and luxury items came in for the richFarming, however, remained the chief occupation and the basis of Roman prosperity

16Roman LawOne of Romes most important contributions to society was its system of lawRomes first code of law, the Twelve Tables, was adopted in 450 B.C.Later Rome adopted a more sophisticated system of civil law, which applied to Roman citizens onlyAs Rome expanded and special rules were needed, a body of law was developed known as the Law of Nations, which the Romans considered as natural law, or universal law based on reasonThese standards included principles still recognized today: a person was innocent until proven guiltypeople accused of wrongdoing were allowed to defend themselvesjudges weighed evidence carefully before arriving at a decision.

Slavery in the Roman EmpireNo people relied on slavery as much as the RomansAs Rome conquered the Mediterranean area, large numbers of war captives were brought to Italy as slavesGreeks were prized as tutors, musicians, doctors, and artistsSlaves worked in shops, made crafts, and performed household tasks such as cleaning and gardeningSlaves also built roads and public buildings, and farmed large estates of the wealthyConditions for slaves were often pitifulOne Roman writer argued that it was cheaper to work slaves to death and replace them than to care for themSlavery in the Roman EmpireSome slaves revoltedThe most famous slave revolt in Italy was led by the gladiator Spartacus in 73 B.C. Seventy thousand slaves joined Spartacus and defeated several Roman armies before being defeated in 71 B.C.Spartacus was killed, and thousands of his followers were crucified

Daily Life in the City of RomeRome had the largest population of any city in the empire, close to one million by the time of AugustusRome was overcrowded and noisy Wagons and carts were banned from the streets during the day to ease the congestionThere was a great gulf between rich and poorWhile the rich lived in comfortable villas, the poor lived in apartment blocks called insulaeAs tall as six stories, these poorly constructed buildings often collapsedFires were a constant threatDaily Life in the City of RomeHigh rents forced entire families to live in one roomThe apartments did not have any plumbing or central heatingThese uncomfortable conditions caused many Romans to spend most of their time outdoors in the streetRome had unequaled public buildingssuch as baths, temples, theaters, and marketsbut poverty remained a problemBeginning with Augustus, the citys two hundred thousand poor received free grain from the emperorDaily Life in the City of RomeGrand public spectacles entertained the peopleEmperors often mounted these spectacles as part of religious festivalsThe festivals featured horse and chariot races at the Circus Maximus, dramatic performances in theaters, and very popular gladiatorial showsRoman CultureLatin literatures high point was during the Age of Augustus.The most distinguished poet of the Augustan Age was Virgil, who wrote his epic poem the Aeneid in honor of RomeThe character Aeneas displays the virtues of the ideal Romanduty, piety, and loyaltyBy establishing the Romans in Italy, Aeneas started the city on its divine mission to rule the worldIn the third and second centuries B.C., the Romans developed a taste for Greek artGreek statues adorned their cities and homesReproductions became popularRoman sculptors added realistic, even unpleasant, features to the idealized Greek formsRoman CultureThe practical-minded Romans excelled in architectureThe Romans continued to use Greek styles (colonnades and rectangular buildings) and created forms based on curved lines: the dome, arch, and vaultThey were the first people to use concrete on a massive scaleThe Romans were first-class engineers who built enduring roads, bridges, and aqueducts.They built 50,000 miles of roads throughout the empireRomes many aqueducts supplied one million people with waterThe Emergence of ChristianityBy A.D. 6, Judaea, which covered the lands of the ancient kingdom of Judah, was a Roman province under the direction of a procuratorUnrest was common in Judaea, even among factions of JewsA Jewish revolt began in A.D. 66 but was crushed by the Romans four years later

The Emergence of ChristianityA few decades before the revolt, a Jewish prophet named Jesus began to preach throughout JudaeaJesus taught that inner transformation was more important than adhering to laws or ritualsIndividuals should treat others as they would like to be treatedPeople should love God and love each other, treating all as neighborsJesus taught the virtues that would later shape the value system of Western civilization: humility, charity, and love of othersThe Emergence of ChristianityJesus opponents turned Jesus over to the Roman authorities because they feared he might cause people to revolt against RomeThe procurator, Pontius Pilate, ordered Jesus crucifiedFollowers of Jesus, however, believed he overcame deathMany Jewish followers believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the long-expected savior of Israel

The Spread of ChristianitySimon Peter was a prominent leader in early ChristianityPeter and the other apostles taught that Jesus was the Savior and Son of God come to Earth to save all peopleJesus death had made up for peoples sins and made salvation possibleIndividuals had only to accept Christ as their Savior to be savedAnother prominent leader was Paul, who followed Jesus command to preach the gospel to both Jews and non-Jews, or GentilesHe founded many Christian communities in Asia Minor and along the Aegean SeaThe Spread of ChristianityChristian teachings were passed down orally, and some were preserved in writing by Jesus disciples and followersBetween A.D. 70 and 100, these writings became the basis of the written Gospels (the good news)The Gospels tell of Jesus life and teachings, and they form the basis of the New Testament, the second part of the Christian BibleBy 100, Christian churches had been established throughout the eastern empire and parts of the western empire

The Triumph of ChristianityRomans came to see Christianity as harmful to the public order because Christians would not worship the Roman gods, an act of treasonChristians believed in one God only and would not worship false gods or the emperors for fear of endangering their salvationRoman persecution of Christians began under Nero (A.D. 5468), who blamed them for the fire that destroyed much of RomeHe subjected them to cruel deaths

The Triumph of ChristianityRoman persecution strengthened Christianity by forcing it to become more organizedThe emerging control of bishops over Christian communities was an important part of this changeThe Christian Church created a new structure in which the clergy (church leaders) were distinct from the laity (everyday church members)Christianity attracted many followersFirst, it was more personal than the Roman religion and offered eternal life and salvationSecond, it gave people a sense of belonging to a communityThird, Christianity appealed to every class and was especially attractive to the poor and powerlessEvery individual, regardless of status, could gain salvationThe Triumph of ChristianityChristianity prospered in the fourth centuryConstantine became the first Christian emperorIn 313, his Edict of Milan proclaimed official toleration of ChristianityUnder Theodosius the Great, the Romans adopted Christianity as their official religionThe DeclineA long period of civil wars, political disorder, and economic decline followed the death of the last good emperor, Marcus Aurelius, in A.D. 180At the end of the third and the beginning of the fourth centuries, the emperors Diocletian and Constantine revived Rome, founding a state called the Late Roman EmpireThis state had a new governmental structure, a rigid economic and social system, and a new religionChristianity.Diocletian ruled from 284 to 305Believing the empire was too large for only one ruler, he divided the empire into four sections, each with its own rulerDiocletians military power gave him ultimate authority over the other three rulersConstantine, who ruled from 306 to 337, extended many of Diocletians policiesThe DeclineBoth emperors expanded the bureaucracy and enlarged the army to five hundred thousand troops.Their expansion of the civil service and the military drained the treasuryMore money was needed, but a lack of population growth meant that the tax base could not be increasedTo preserve the existing tax base, the emperors issued edicts forcing people to stay in their assigned jobs

The DeclineBy 324, Constantine was the sole ruler of the Roman EmpireHis biggest project was building a new capital city in the east on the site of Byzantium on the shores of the BosporusConstantine filled his New Rome with a forum, large palaces, and an amphitheaterConstantinople would become the center of the Eastern Roman Empire and one of the worlds greatest cities.The policies of Diocletian and Constantine were based on control and coercionIn the long run, they stifled the vitality that the empire needed to surviveThe FallThe empire restored by Diocletian and Constantine continued for another hundred-plus yearsIt was divided into two parts and had two capitals, Rome in the west and Constantinople in the eastIn the second half of the fourth century, Huns from Asia moved into eastern Europe and put pressure on the German VisigothsThe Visigoths moved south, crossing the Danube River into Roman territoryInitially Roman allies, the Visigoths revolted and defeated a Roman army in 378The FallMore Germans crossed into Roman lands.In 410 the Visigoths sacked the city of RomeIn 455 another group called the Vandals also sacked the cityOur modern word vandal comes from the name of this ruthless tribeIn 476 the western emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the Germanic head of the armyThis event is usually used to mark the end of the Western Roman EmpireThe Eastern Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, however, continued to thrive

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